sherman



July s, 192s. 1,675,992 H. B. SHERMAN DRAIN VALVE FOR LAWN SPRINKLING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 21, 1927 if e 54,@ BY

Patented July 3, 1928.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD B. SHERMAN, F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO H. B. SHERMAN MANUFACTURING CO., OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHI- GAN.

DRAIN vALvn Fon LAwN-srmNxLINe SYSTEMS.'

Application led November 21, 1927. Serial No. 234,709.

This invention is an improvement in underground lawn sprinkler systems, such as shown in my pending application (Case 7439) filed July 5, 1927, Serial No. 203,443, which can be cheaply and easily installed b ordinary labor and is automatically sel draining when not in use; and it provldes an automatic drain valve that can be easily removed and replaced in case of troublewithout having to dig up 'any portion of the system, and which will be reliable and elicient in operation.

Ordinarily if a drain valve for Some unforeseen reason gives trouble, to get at the faulty drain valve that part of the system containing it must be dug up, involving considerable expense and disfiguring the lawn 1n so doing.

My present invention provides an automatic drain valve that can be easily removed and replaced through the sprinkler head and is inexpensive and economical. v

The accompanying drawing illustrates such valve, as used in a lawn sprinkling system, and I will describe the same with reference thereto, and summarizel inthe claims the novel features of construction, and no vel combinations of parts for whlch protection is desired. In said drawings,- p

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of part of a sprinkler system equipped with mynovel draln valvesg. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the units of the system, equipped with a drain valve; t

Fig. 3 is av vertical section .through the body and drain valve detached and shows the tool used to remove or replace the drain t0 valve;

Fig. 4'is a similar sectional view showing the valve .in place in the body;

Fig, 5 is a detail view of the valve 4; ,l Fig. 6 is a detail view of the tool de- '45 tached;

Fig. 7 is a detail top plan View of the drain valve.

Lawn sprinkler `systems ordinarily include4 a number of units, each comprising a hollow 50 bodyl 1, to which is attached a sprinkler head 2, vand la drain valve 3.

A number of these units may be placed at different points in thevarea to be sprinkled, *with the sprinkler head uppermost and the vention illustrated in the drawings the body 1 is provided with horizontally disposed openlngs, 18L and 1b on opposite sides to which are connected the water supply pipes 16. The body is also provided Wlth upper and lower vertically disposed openings 1 and 1. c

The upper opening is connected by a pi section 2Il with a sprinkler head 2. T e pipe'sections 2' vary in length, according to the depth at which the body is placed below the surface of the ground, as the upper end of the head 2 should be flush withthe surface of the ground as indicated in Fig. 1.

The sprinkler head is referably constructed as shown and descri ed. in my aforesaid application, and needs no further detailed explanation herein.

`The drain valve 3 is removably mounted in the lower/opening 1d of the body 1, and can be placed therein or removed therefrom, by means oa suitable tool (Fig. 6).

Each drain valve 3 comprises-a cylindrical casing having a lower cylindrical portion 3EL of less diameter than :the lower opening in the body; and above part 3'L 1s a somewhat enlarged and externally threaded portion 3b adapted to engage the internally threaded lower opening in the body l; and above part 3b is an enlarged tubular cylindrical ortion 3f, which is preferably of larger iameter than the externally threaded portion 3*. The lower end of the part 3t is adapted to fit within an annular recess 6 in the opening 1l of the body above the threaded portion thereof. A water-tight joint can be formed between thepart 3t and the -body by a lead or other Washer 9 which enables the valve to be set water tight in the body or casing without having to be screwed so rigidly into the body.

The valve casing 3 also has a valve seat 3, Within the portion 3* and below the cylindric portion 3f, on which a valve 4 isadapted to seat; valve 4 has a stem 4 that extends loosely through an opening in the lower end iol of the casing and may be retained by a pin- 4. The valve 4 is normally held in raised open position by means of a spring 5 interposed between the bottom of the casing and The slots 3t extend below the 'groove 3 and just below these slots is an annulargroove 3g in which is secured a screen 6 preferably of fine copper wire. The top of this screen is almost flush with the bottom of the slots 3; and the bottom of these slots are almost Hush with the lower sides of the openings l, 1b in the body.

In any rotative position of the valve casing,pwhen screwed home, lsome of the slots.

3t will be almost in direct line with the openings la, 1b and water flowing through the body, when the valve 4 is closed, will pas; 'n rough the slots 3t and across the top of thescreen 6 and clean the latt'er. I have found in actual practice that with such slots the screen is kept clean; and dirt or sediment deposited on the screen will be. washed away when pressure is turnedon, and the sprinkler is in operation. I have tested this by packing dirt upon the screen within the flange 3f, and this dirt was cleared sway f when the water pressure was turned on.

may enter, the

revente dirt or scale which ody passing down to the valve seat and. thereby impairin the ethoiency of the valve by preventing its proper The screen 6 vclosing under pressure. The stem 4a of the valve 4 is so much smaller in diameter than the bore of the lower part o f the drain valve Vcasing 3, Athat any fine dirt that passes throuo'h the screen will also ass down beside tbe stem and out throug the opening in the bottom of Athe casing 3; so that Athe valve 4 will not be aiected by any Idirt or grit'that might work through the screen. The valve/ casing can bereadily inserted 1n position or removed, if necessary for repair, by means of a special tool' 7.. This-tool has ahead 7 a on its lower end adapted to bey entered in the upper end 3f of the drain .valve casing,-and is provided with laterally projecting lugs 7b adapted to engage'diametrically opposite slots 3* in the upper end of the valve casing when the tool head isv inserted therein' (see Figs. 3 and 4). The

v tool head is also provided below the lugs in a transverse bore inthe head and having a shank 8, the outer end of which isrounded.` The shank isnormally projected by means of a spring 8 confined in the bore and 4 and the valve casing can be 'then gaged from the channel 3f by an upward pull on the tool. When the drain valve casing 3 is' to be placed in or. removed from the body r1, the head 2, which constitutesl a .sprinkling chamber, should-.be removed as described in my aforesaid companion appli! cation.

' The drain valve opens automaticall when there is no pressure in the pipes, an is removable and replaceable without having to disturb the littings, and `without having to dig up any portion of the system and it can be removed from or replaced in the body with the special tool shown without requiring the services of a mechar ic.-

I claim: 1. A drain valve for the purposespeciiied, comprising a casing having anintermediate externally threaded portion, a cylindric tubular portion above the threaded portion, slots in the cylindric portion for the engagement of a suitable tool or wrench, and a valve seat -below the said slots; an inwardly opening valve in said casing; and a screen in the 'casing below the slots and above the valve.

lfor the engagement of a tool or wrench, and

a-n internal groove near its upper edge. l

adapted to be engaged by said tool jfor inserting and removing the drain valve when,4

rthe unit is in position in the ground; said casing having an internal valve-,seat below said slots` and an externally threaded portion below the said slots; an .inwardly opening valve in said casing, and a screen inthe casing below the slots and above the valve. 3. In a lawn sprinkling apparatus, the

combination of a hollow body provided with openings respectively for. connection with awater supply, a sprinkler head, and a drain valve; with a drain valve comprising a valve casing provided with external threads to engage -in one ofthe openings in the body and slots in its upper endfor the engagement of .a suitable tool or wrench, and having a valve seat below the said slots; an inwardly openi' ingvalve in said casing; and a screen inthe casing below the slots and above the valve. 7b with a spring pressed button8 confined 4.' In a lawn sprinkling apparatus; the

combination of a unit comprising ay hollow 'A body provided with openings for connection with a water supply. and a sprinkler head yand av lower opening'for the reception of a.

drain val-ve; with a removable drain 'valve casing in the lower opening of the ,body hav- L .10 openings for'connection of pip 1ng,'and top lower opening in the body and having a cyl 15 opening 1n the body and having a 'cylindric l ground; said casing having a valve seat near its up er end adapted to be engaged by drain valve being removable and replaceable said tool or inserting and removing the when the unit is in position in the ground. 25

drain valve when the unit is in position lin 6. In a lawn sprinkling apparat-us; the

the ground; said casing having a valve seat combination of a hollow body provided with 45 below the said slots; an inwardly opening openingsfor connection of pipin'g,` and top -valve in said casing; and a screen in the -and bottom openings; a sprinkler head concasing below the slots and above the valve. nected with the uppermost opening of the 3 5. In a lawn sprinkling apparatus; the body; a drain valve casing having external combination of a hollow body provided with threads to engage internal threads in' the and bottom openings; a sprinkler head oon-. lindrio u per end provided with slots and a nected with the vuppermost opening of the groove a apted to be engaged by a suitable 35 y, a drain valve casing externally threadtool for insertin and removing the drain ed to engage internal threads in the lower valve when the ody is in posltion in the tubular upper end rovided with slots for below the said slots and groove, an inwardly the engagement of a ool or wrench, also said openin valve in said casing; a spring for 4 casing having. a valve seat below the said norma y holding the valve open; and a slots, an inwardly opening valve in said casscreen above the .valve and below the slots;

20 ing;'aV spring for normally holding the -valve said slots permitting flow of water over the o en; and a screen above the valve and below t e slots; said slots rmittin flow of water over the screento c ear it o deposits; said i HOWARD'B. SHERMAN.'

screen to clear it of deposits. p 

